IRC UK statement in response to Foreign Secretary’s announcement of new funding to tackle conflict related sexual violence

London, UK, November 28, 2022 —  Laura Kyrke-Smith, International Rescue Committee UK Executive Director, said:

"The UK Foreign Secretary’s announcement is a step in the right direction. The new funding of £12.5 million will help tackle conflict related sexual violence.

Increased funding to prevention efforts, and ensuring it is accessible to women and local organisations will be critical to achieving meaningful change for women and girls living in conflict and crisis.

We need a whole-system feminist response that recognises that the roots of conflict related sexual violence lie in pervasive gender inequality. We have all the tools to prevent this violence from happening, now we need to turn rhetoric into action."